Wind energy generation: Sooner, not later

October 31, 2007

The time for wind energy is now. California-based Clipper Windpower wants to build enough wind turbines in South Dakota to produce up to 6,000 megawatts of electricity. That's enough energy, according to the American Wind Energy Association, to supply power for about 1.6 million homes. The project is - by far - the most expansive wind energy undertaking to date in the world. If completed to Clipper's design, it will be eight times larger than the world's biggest windfarm, a 735-megawatt producing facility with 421 turbines covering three counties in Texas. That's impressive - but what's even more impressive is that Clipper wants this new project right here in South Dakota. We've long been supporters of various types of alternative energy sources - from ethanol to bio-diesel to wind energy - largely because strengthening those industries brings a double bonus: Doing so should help lessen U.S. dependency on foreign oil and bring more opportunity and industry to South Dakota. Clipper has big dreams for wind power in our state. We'd like to see those dreams come true, but in order to achieve them, there needs to be some serious infrastructure growth and enhancement. We've got the wind. No one is arguing about that. What we don't have are the thousands of miles of transmission lines to move that energy from its source to the people who need it. Nor do we have the ready cash to build such lines. South Dakota congressional officials are working to help wind energy proponents get that done. Sens. John Thune and Tim Johnson and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin are supporting efforts - through the energy bill - to extend a federal tax credit for the industry. Doing so would go a long way in solidifying the future of wind energy in the United States - and in South Dakota. Thune said that many companies are interested in building wind farms, and that South Dakota stands to land several of them if the tax credit is extended and the transmissions bottleneck can be fixed. We agree. The energy bill has currently passed both the Senate and the House. Right now, the two houses of Congress are currently negotiating to settle the differences between their versions of the bill. We hope Congress can quickly and effectively come to agreement, and - sooner rather than later - send that energy bill on to President Bush - including the amendment that would establish special corridors to move wind-produced electricity from its source to high-demand population areas. Thune described the corridor as "an interstate highway for wind." The idea sounds like a smart one to us. We hope Congress agrees. About letters... These guidelines are designed to keep the Public Voice column interesting and useful for all readers. In order to make room for as many opinions as possible, we have established the following guidelines:

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